As the third brightest object in the solar
system, only out-shown by the Sun and Moon, Venus is a true sight to
behold. Venus is the second planet from the Sun and, because it lies
within Earth's orbit, is classified as inferior. Because of its
location relative to Earth, Venus can only be seen in the morning or
evening. Averaging out at about magnitude -4, Venus cannot be missed.
The greatest elongation possible for Venus is about 47 degrees. The
best times for viewing Venus are Spring evenings and Fall mornings,
when Venus can be seen about half way up to the zenith during a good
appearance. At other times of year when the ecliptic is at a flatter
angle, Venus appears much closer to the horizon. Because of its
brightness and movement in relation to the Sun, Venus was given
special significance by many ancient cultures, especially the Maya of
Central America, who considered Venus just as important as the Sun.
Because of its brightness, Venus is very easy to spot. So go outside
when Venus is at its best placement, you can’t miss it.

When
looking at Venus through binoculars, it may be possible to see phases
if the binoculars are strong enough (above 15x power) and are mounted
on a tripod.

In telescopes, Venus can appear to be a mini Moon
because of its very obvious phases. Because it is closer to us then
Mercury, when watching the phases of Venus, look for changes in the
planet's angular size as the planet will appear at its largest as a
crescent and its smallest as it nears full.